Life and Stereotypes

Facebook asked me what's on my mind so here goes...

Over the past few weeks, I realized that I enjoyed stereotypes. After all, what would the world be if I didn't yab my Yoruba friend on his pepper obsession or my Edo one on his proficiency in a certain kind of craft?

However, stereotypes become dangerous when we can no longer see the human as himself, when he becomes nothing more than another extension of a group's mind. It becomes a problem when we attribute to the entirety of a group a nature for the simple reason that people within that group, albeit a majority, exhibit such tendencies. Then it becomes wrong. Humans are humans. Humans are different.

Till then, will I use stereotypes? You bet I will. Will I have a good laugh at your expense and that of every group you have found yourself- feminists, tribe, Hausa perfume? I'll do that too. Don't worry. It doesn't mean nothing. I still love you.